​Health Insurance plans for international student in the US can come with a hefty price tag. For some schools, international students have the option to waive the plan as long as their alternative plan meets the school's requirements. While others have no choice but to pay for the school's insurance due to their school's strict requirements.

To have an idea of the insurance cost for international students when they opt for annual coverage under their school's insurance, check out our list below:

Finding a suitable medical provider is an important aspect of utilizing your insurance plan. Follow this quick guide on the difference medical providers that you can choose from while in the U.S.

Student Health Center: Most schools usually have a medical center on campus designated to treat students for minor sickness and injuries. It is usually more affordable and convenient for students.

Physician's Office: They provide medical attention for health conditions that are not an emergency. If you’re feeling unwell, you can make an appointment to see the doctor at this office.

Urgent Care: You would usually go to this type of provider for situations that are not life threatening or an emergency but your need immediate medical attention. An urgent care can treat conditions such as fever, cuts and infections and you can go there if your regular doctor’s office is close or unavailable to see you.

Emergency Room: ​It’s always best to go to the Emergency Room only if you have a serious injury or sickness. ER visits can be costly and situations that can be considered as an emergency are broken bones, head trauma, deep wounds, and serious burns

Before Your School Starts...Now that the pressure of the school semester has eased or that long process of getting into your dream school has become a reality, the next thing to think about is how best you can prepare for the school semester.

Physical examinations

Start your semester off with a clean bill of health. Before coming to the US, visit your personal doctor for a full body examination to ensure that you are mentally and physically ready for school. Keep in mind that many of our ISO plans provide coverage for accidents and sickness only.

As such, it’s more affordable and easier to get it done in your home country since you have access to your personal doctor that you are familiar with. This way you can comfortably discuss any concerns that you have without the added pressure. Also, most schools require that you get a physical done as part of your admission requirements.​

​Dental and vision examinations and treatments can be quite expensive. To avoid this extra financial burden, ensure that you get your teeth checked and eyes examined in your home coverage. Kick off the semester with a winning smile and healthy eyes

​

​You will need a medical safety net while you’re in the USA. Review your school’s insurance requirements for international students and the waiver deadline. Check out ISOwebsite to see the plans that we offer just for you!

The ability to lead is a very important skill, and highly valued by USA employers. For international students especially, it can appear difficult to think of ways to build and improve leadership skills.

One way to gain leadership skills is to obtain a leadership role on your school’s campus. You could be a Resident Adviser in your residence hall, or a president of a club you are involved with. You'll learn how to work with a team, mediate conflicts, and communicate better with others in these roles.

You could also think about taking a leadership course. Your school or a local organization might offer classes or seminars on leadership, and enhancing skills related to leadership such as speaking and writing.

Remember that you can build leadership skills even when you aren’t in a position of authority. Whatever job, club, or team you are a part of, challenge yourself to work on projects beyond your job description. You will learn new things, and others will notice when you take the initiative to start new projects.

Summer is the time when many schools release the insurance waiver requirements for their international students. To avoid being caught off guard with the requirements and deadlines, here’s how you can prepare.​

​Check the waiver requirements.This checklist gives you information about what kind of benefits and coverage dates you need to meet to have your school accept your insurance plan. It will also let you know by when you need to submit your waiver.

Regularly check your school’s international student office website or your advisor for more information about your waiver requirements and deadline

​Once your school has released the requirements and you are allowed to waive out, look most at the insurance benefits of your alternative options. While the premium is important, the plan benefits takes precedence.​

At ISO we always make it our duty to know waiver deadlines and requirements for respective schools. Give us a call or email us and we will be happy to assist you with navigating your insurance requirements and suggesting the correct plans.

Q. Wh﻿at is PPACA (ACA) othe﻿rwise known as “Obamacare” ?A. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which many people refer to as the“Obamacare” is the healthcare reform that President Obama introduced in March 2010 and implemented in 2014.

Q. Do I need to have a ACA plan as an international student?A.This plan is not required by all. The ACA plan only applies to those who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents and resident aliens. Once you are an F, M, Q or J visa holder, you may be exempt from being treated as a resident alien. Exempt Individual - Who is a StudentA student is any individual who is temporarily in the United States on an "F, " "J, " "M, " or "Q " visa for the primary purpose of studying at an academic institution or vocational school, and who substantially complies with the requirements of that visa. http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Exempt-Individual-Who-is-a-Student﻿﻿What are the statutory exemptions from the requirement to obtain minimum essential coverage?Income below the income tax return filing requirement. Your income is below the minimum threshold for filing a tax return. The requirement to file a federal tax return depends on your filing status, age and types and amounts of income. To find out if you are required to file a federal tax return, use the IRSInteractive Tax Assistant(ITA).

Q. What if I am an international student who has been in the U.S. for more than five years?A.If you are an international who has been in the U.S. for more than five years, you may no longer be exempt.

When a Student is Not ExemptYou will not be an exempt individual as a student if you have been exempt as a teacher, trainee, student, Exchange Visitor, or Cultural Exchange Visitor on an "F, " "J, " "M, " or "Q " visa for any part of more than 5 calendar years, unless you establish to the satisfaction of the IRS that you do not intend to reside permanently in the United States, and you have substantially complied with the requirements of your nonimmigrant status.http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Exempt-Individual-Who-is-a-Student

Q. If I do not need to have an ACA plan, what plans should I apply for?A. As a full time international student, you are eligible to purchase our student insurance plans, which can be found from our website, www.isoa.org.

Q. If I am on OPT, what plans am I eligible for? Are werequired to have the Obamacare plan?A.As an OPT visa holder, you are still eligible to purchase our plans such as the OPTima Basic Plan and OPTima Enhanced Plan. You may be required to purchase an ACA plan if you are in the US for more than 5 years and/or your income is above the minimum threshold for filing a tax return. For more details regarding your status, please speak with a tax consultant for refer to the link below.

Q. If I am not exempt but decide not to purchase an ACA plan what will happen?A. Most likely you will have to pay a penalty. The penalty is calculated one of 2 ways- percentage based or a flat dollar amount. If you don’t have insurancethat qualifiesas minimum essential coverageyou'll pay whichever of these amounts is higher:​​​

Q. If I want to purchase an ACA plan, where can I obtain it?A.If none of the exemption fits your visa status, you may visit HealthCare.gov toselect a plan that is most appropriate for you. Or, you may consult with a tax advisor, in order to avoid being penalized when filing for tax. ​

After a busy Fall semester, relaxing and resting are usually at the top of the list to do during the holiday break. Throughout your much needed break, there are the 3 G’s that you should keep in mind to avoid unnecessary stress.

Get your schedule: Ensure that you enroll early into the classes that you want to take for the upcoming Spring semester.

Get ready: Once you have registered for classes, check to see if the syllabus is posted and get a head start on any necessary readings, course works or books that you need.

Get insurance: New semester means new insurance coverage. If you haven’t purchased your ISO insurance coverage for the Spring semester, check out the plans that we have for your school online today- www.isoa.org

​Summer travel is a fun way to make the most out of your school break. However, no one likes to get sick when they’re having fun but it does happen. Another reason why it’s important that you maintain your ISO insurance while you’re in the US for summer break. Take a look at some of the common summer illnesses that can happen to you and how you can get help.

Protect your gut: Travelling can take you on to a taste bud adventure which increases the chances of you suffering from food poisoning. Ensure that your food is prepared and cooked properly in order to decrease the chances of becoming sick.

​

Ears are important: A good swim is a sure way to cool down during the summer heat. However, the more you swim, the likely you are to get an infection in your outer ear canal also known as Swimmer’s Ear. Investing in ear plugs or carefully drying your ears after a swim are two ways to protect yourself from this.

​Cool for the summer: Summer equals high temperature and this can lead to hyperthermia (heat stroke). If you experience very high body temperature, headache, nausea, dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps and fatigue then you may be suffering hypothermia. Ensure you stay hydrated during the day, wear lightweight, light-colored loose clothing, stay in an air conditioned area and avoid vigorous outside work during 10 a.m. and 4 p.m..​

Everything can be confusing when you first arrive to the U.S. One of the main areas of confusion for international students is trying to figure out where to go when they become really sick. For some international students they hear the name Emergency Room and Urgent Care and are not really sure what they mean in the U.S. In some countries, the Emergency Room is like a doctor’s office or walk in clinic and is much cheaper. However, in the U.S., the Emergency Room has a different meaning and can be really expensive. Here are some tips on where you should go when you need help.Emergency Rooms: In the United States, the Emergency Room was created to deal with injuries and sickness that are life threatening. However, what is considered to be life threatening? Here are the top 5 reasons why you should go to the ER:1.Continuous chest pains- This may be a sign that something serious is happening to your body and you may need immediate attention. Also, if you are having a hard time breathing, feeling sick and have a burning feeling along with these chest plains for a long a period of time, find the closest emergency room as soon as possible.2.Broken bones – Breaking your bones can be very painful and if not taken care of immediately can dangerous to the rest of your body. For immediate attention, the emergency room is the safest choice.3.Severe stomach pain – If you are experiencing a painful stomach ache that goes on longer than usual, get to the emergency room as soon as possible. Severe stomach pain can be related to infections, kidney stone problems or food poisoning. 4.Contusions head trauma or severe cuts- Injuries to your head is not something to mess around with. This may cause to experience seizures, losing your consciousness and repeatedly vomiting. If you are badly bruised and/ or bleeding heavily and you are unable to stop it, it would be best to go to an emergency room to get immediate attention. 5.Suddenly dizzy or disoriented - This may be a sign of a seizure, dehydration or something more serious. oUrgent Cares: These are medical facilities that can deal with numerous conditions that need to be treated immediately but are not an emergency or life threatening. Here are the top 5 situations where you should go to the urgent care rather than the emergency room. 1.Skin rashes and infections - This may be a sign that there is inflammation to the skin. This can be caused by chemicals, soaps or even cosmetics dyes in clothing that are in contact with the skin. If rash starts to get worse or swells and becomes red, immediate medical attention may be required so that your condition does not get worse. 2.Bleeding or Cuts- If you get injured and you are bleeding (not heavily) and may require stitches, going to an urgent care is cheaper than going to the emergency room. They will be able to provide the same service as if you went to the ER.3.Eye irritation and redness- There are many things that can cause your eye to become red and irritated. They range from allergies, dry eyes to computer vision syndrome (caused by staring at a computer screen too long). If your eye irritation and redness goes on longer than normal, get to an urgent care closest to you.4.Moderate back pains- If you are experiencing these kinds of pains for at least 2 weeks, you may want to see a doctor soon to see what’s causing the problem. This may be a sign that something more serious may be happening in your body.5.Fever – This is usually linked to an infection in the ear, lungs, or throat. It isn’t normally considered to be a dangerous condition and you can get treated properly at an urgent care. Hopefully, these tips can help you on deciding on where would be the best place to go to get medical attention while saving money.Sources:http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20479354_2,00.htmlhttp://www.scripps.org/news_items/4231-should-you-go-to-the-emergency-room-or-urgent-carehttp://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/service-areas/urgent-care/what-is-urgent-carehttp://www.webmd.com/first-aid/fevers-causes-symptoms-treatmentshttp://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/causes-of-back-painhttp://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/red-eyes.htmhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003220.htm

Whether you are an international student, or someone who’s doing a summer exchange program in the U.S., there’s nothing more important than having a safety net to fall back on, especially when it comes to health insurance. Health care works differently in some places than it does in the United States. In many countries, health insurance can be obtained for very little to no cost all. For private institutions such as Stanford University, students were charged close to $4,000 for the 2013-2014 academic year for its student health insurance. For many international students, it is compulsory for them to pay this fee in order to enroll in classes. For those who are allowed the flexibility in selecting a health care plan, most students seek plans that are affordable, yet can meet their school’s waiver requirements. Most schools in the U.S. have specific waiver requirements, such as specific coverage for lifetime maximum, deductible and/or co-payment. Services such pre-existing condition and wellness and preventative care coverage might make the plan more appealing, yet it also makes the premium a lot higher. To most international students, they come to the U.S. with one goal in mind—to obtain knowledge. Therefore, if they need to pay extra for services that go way beyond their needs, it only becomes another financial burden for them and their family.Service vs. Cost According to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing report, students spend up to $9,000 for room and board, $1,200 on books and supplies, $2,000 on personal expenses and $1,000 on transportation on an annual basis. These fees are solely for cost of living and do not include the actual tuition. Sri Charan, who attends the University of South Florida, said living expenses can cost up to $1500 per month for him. Therefore, when faced with a $2000 charge for health insurance from his school, he described that as being “really pricey” for an international student. Therefore, any additional fee for students, especially students from abroad, can seem like an extraneous expense that they might not be able to afford. As a result, most international students want to find a balance between cost and coverage when it comes to health insurance, since few of them go to doctors on a regular basis and even fewer require supplementary services such as intercollegiate sports. Furthermore, many international students do not seek treatments unless it becomes a case of emergency Dorian from Kutztown University said, “I want an insurance that covers me for big problems, just to be sure that I do not have to spend thousands of dollars in case of emergency.”Mandatory school plans Currently, a big problem that many international students are facing is not being able to waive out of their school’s health care plan, since some schools have strict waiver requirements. Some students must meet one of the following requirements to waive out of their school’s plan—government sponsored, employer sponsored or covered under the parents’ insurance plan—which is hard to achieve for international students. With these tight restrictions, one can’t help but raise the question of why is it that schools are pushing students into their health insurance plans? The answer: convenience. According to the director of ISSO (International Student Services Office) for Oakland University, he labels it as: “… a huge hassle for the school when students have multiple [insurance] plans.”What do students really seek for? Therefore, unlike their U.S. classmates, many international students do not have the option to opt out of the school’s plan. According to Dorian, “The price, if the plan meets the school requirements, and if it covers serious problems,” is what he is looking for in an insurance plan. Similar to Dorian, most international students are not seeking for comprehensive plans like the ones they may have in their home country. Instead, they want a plan with medium coverage at a cost that they can afford. Fortunately, companies such as ISO Health Insurance, is working with universities across the country to create plans that will not only meet their requirements, but also make them more affordable. Laura from University of South Florida said, “My school recommended ISO to me, and I haven’t had any problems when I went for treatments.” She then added, “It’s really easy for me!” There is nothing more important than staying healthy when you are abroad. With ISO International Student Health Insurance, students are able to have affordable health care plans that will meet there school’s unique requirements.